Parliamentary questions

151. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Social Protection the improvements he is planning in relation to the fuel allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32978/25]

152. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection to give an update on work his Department is doing to decrease social welfare appeal waiting times; the current average time it takes for an appeal to be decided on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32277/25]

153. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason the commitment to reduce consistent poverty to 2% by 2025 in the Roadmap for Social Inclusion 2020-2025 has been so badly missed, with the most recent CSO report showing it is at 5%, up from 3.6% in 2023, and the Child Poverty Monitor reporting that consistent poverty among children is at 8.5%, up from 4.8% in 2023; a…

154. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to develop a pension solution for foster carers in recognition of the enormous contribution they make to vulnerable children in our society, as committed in the Programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32967/25]

155. Deputy Tony McCormack asked the Minister for Social Protection the means by which his Department is assisting businesses to plan for auto-enrolment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32981/25]

156. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he is aware that employers are not obligated to make pension contributions during unpaid maternity leave unless stipulated in the employment contract; if he is aware of the hardship this incurs on new mothers and parents later in life; if he plans to address the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33105/25]

157. Deputy Aisling Dempsey asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to extend social welfare payments, benefits and allowances to foster carers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33129/25]

158. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection if he is aware of the growing difficulties faced by community and voluntary organisations across County Tipperary in maintaining essential services due to the chronic inability to fill vacancies on community employment (CE) schemes; the urgent measures being taken to address the recruitment crisis and ensure the sustainability of …

159. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the steps he will take to address the massive rise in consistent poverty among children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33028/25]

160. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide a breakdown of the number of families that have benefitted from the newborn baby grant since its introduction; his Department’s plans to revise the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33149/25]

161. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Social Protection if he intends to review the current weekly means limit for the increase for qualified adult allowance for recipients of the State pension with a view to increasing the current means limit of €100, which has remained unchanged for several years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33113/25]

162. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if, further to the most recent fine imposed on his Department by the data protection commissioner for deficiencies in compliance with data protection rules, he will provide details of each Government Department or agency that this data was shared with; if he will confirm that the data in question has been deleted by his Departmen…

163. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will ensure entitlement to disability allowance for young people who have been in receipt of domiciliary care allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33138/25]

164. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Social Protection The actions taken to increase the upper age limit for domiciliary care allowance from 16 to 18 years of age; if he will consider a straight transition on to disability benefit where possible, to reduce red tape; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32976/25]

165. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Social Protection the actions his Department will take to alleviate the issue of the great difficulty persons have in meeting with the community welfare officers; if he will consider reverting back to holding individual clinics in smaller towns like Portartlington, Mountmellick, Durrow and Stradbally in Laois; and if he will make a statement on the …

166. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of extending illness benefit to the self-employed; the estimated increase in PRSI rates that would be required to meet this cost; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32947/25]

167. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Social Protection if his Department regularly shares data with the Criminal Assets Bureau of An Garda Síochána; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32786/25]

168. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection to confirm that parents/guardians of children who are blind and in receipt of a free travel pass will also receive a travel pass in their own right; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33131/25]

169. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection to detail any plans he has to review the wage subsidy scheme. [31582/25]

170. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Social Protection the improvements he is planning in relation to the living alone allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32979/25]

171. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will report on his attendance at the annual carers’ forum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32902/25]

172. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will report on his engagement to encourage employers to utilise the wage subsidy scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32901/25]

173. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection the total number of persons in receipt of the carers allowance at year end for each of the past ten years; and the current total number in receipt of the allowance. [32430/25]

174. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will ensure that his Department will examine the case for TDs having direct access, a local dedicated phoneline or service, in particular for rent allowance, so TDs can speak with the community welfare officers section when necessary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32975/25]

175. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection his views on a report on child poverty (details supplied); and if he will outline the actions he is taking to address the concerns raised. [33122/25]